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COPD and Other Stuff This is a patient-to-patient blog to exchange information and resources…from COPD to Arthritis to Cellulites to Sarcoidosis to Sleep Apnea to RLS to Psoriasis to Support Groups to Caregivers and all points in between.

“The Cost Of Care
Tom Kruse, Harrison’s vice president of strategy and business
development, points to stalled plans to enlarge Harrison’s
Silverdale campus. The hospital recently announced plans to cut
staff and close its behavioral health unit.
The big-picture solution is to fix a health-care delivery system
that Kruse said is “fundamentally broken.”…
Rather than universal health care, Kruse said a system that
replaces the current one should have patients who are accountable
for their own health through good habits; physicians who are
cost-conscious without letting quality suffer; and insurance
companies that profit less.”
***********************************
Absolutely make patients accountable for their own health.

First, EDUCATE patients to the likely future health consequences
of (smoking) for one example. Don’t ‘tell’ them, SHOW them.

Make complacent doctors responsible for suggesting early
detection testing to their patients! (Spirometry is only one one
example)

I bought my own oximeter for $300 and practiced until I proved
to myself I could bring my own numbers up from the basement 70’s to
the safe blood/oxygen range of the 90’s attic.

How?
By sitting very still, eating and drinking nothing and a total
focus on pursued lip breathing as I watched my numbers climb from
the 70’s to the low 90’s.

I wore the oximeter on a string around my neck until it trained
me. These days my blood/oxygen ranges in the high 90’s.

I do know the ‘Exertion number’ play and understand it.
Unfortunately, it is subjective and means different things to
different people.

The oximeter is precise and proves to the patient using it that
she/he CAN manage a shortness of breath situation that previously
sent them to the very expensive emergency room.

EDUCATE PATIENTS!
********************
Comments
Posted by familien1 on May 10, 2009 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest
removal)
“… the system is broken at both ends, both for Harrison and for the
people .. can’t get to a doctor except through the emergency
departments.” …

Safety net for whom?

“… Harrison .
“We are the safety net for the community,” Cochrell said.”

For how long?

Harrison Medical Center is the community ‘lifeboat.’

As Harrison (lifeboat) continues to take folks aboard far beyond
the weight limit of the lifeboat’s ability to stay afloat, at some
point the lifeboat will sink and all aboard will drown.

Harrison might be forced to close her doors and be of no benefit
to anyone.

I do not have an answer or solution…other than to say EDUCATE
the patients on what they can do to best help themselves, thus
making fewer panic trips to the emergency room.

I have made trips to the er in the last few years, but not for
COPD. It is the subsequent medical conditions.
Nevertheless, without a community hospital, insurance is a moot
point. The long term seems to be that one hospital after another
will close their doors.

How about a jaunt to Rome, COPDers?
I am happy to tell you the FIRST WORLD CONFERENCE of COPD PATIENTS
is June 14, 2009 in Rome, Italy!
For the COPD collector of Firsts, save $50 by registering before
May 29, 2009 and join “23 of the most respected experts in COPD
patient care from all over the world along with committed COPD
patients, educators, activists, and public health officials.
Participate in the endorsement and dissemination of the global COPD
patient’s bill of rights!”
For more information about the First World Conference of COPD
Patients, email copd@evolvegroupinc.com.
Additional conference information is available at
www.internationalcopd.org.
…
Lawrence Grouse, MD, PhD
Executive Director
International COPD Coalition
Dedicated doctors, patients, caregivers and probably most everyone
in the lung world have worked years toward this first of its kind,
a COPD historic conference.
The 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. and 5th leading cause of
death in the world is beginning to emerge into the light of day and
new knowledge will come to life.
In the meantime, COPDers, ask your doctor about getting into a
pulmonary rehabilitation program.
The two I have been through are:
Capri Heart & Lung Institute
2601 Cherry Ave 111, Bremerton WA 98310
(360) 479-3886

Harrison Medical Center Rehabilitation
1780 Nw Myhre Rd G210, Silverdale WA 98383
(360) 337-8980
When I went through Capri’s program almost all their stationary
bikes were the recumbent exercise bike…nowadays they have one
recumbent stationary bike.
The rehab folks at both are good but the two water rehab
technicians at Harrison Silverdale are extraordinary in their care,
expertise and empathy for their patients and patient rehabilitation
is a leading path back to life…in my opinion.

About This Blog

This is a patient to patient blog to exchange information and resources...from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) to Arthritis to Cellulites to Sarcoidosis to Sleep Apnea to RLS to Psoriasis to Support Groups to Caregivers and all points in between. Written by Sharon O'Hara.